Can a 1,400-Year-Old Quranic Chapter Redefine the Future of the Global Economy?

KUALA LUMPUR — At a moment when much of the world is wrestling with widening inequality, financial anxiety, and a growing distrust in global systems, an unlikely source is stepping into the conversation: Surah Al-Saff — a short, often-overlooked chapter of the Qur’an that speaks of unity, purpose, and moral courage.

On December 6 and 7, hundreds of participants are expected to gather in Kuala Lumpur for the World Quran Convention (WQC), an annual event that has steadily evolved from a spiritual gathering into something more ambitious: a platform asking whether the Qur’an can help rebuild not only hearts, but economies.

This year’s theme — “The Power of Unity: Economic Transformation through Surah Al-Saff” — is intentionally bold. Organizers say they want to move beyond the familiar conversations about recitation, spirituality, or moral reminders. Instead, WQC is positioning the Qur’an as a living text capable of guiding trade, leadership, finance, and societal development in the modern world.

It’s a radical proposition, but also a deeply human one.

The Qur’an as an Economic Compass

For Muslims, the Qur’an is more than scripture. It is a worldview — a map of values.
Principles such as justice (ʿadl), balance (tawāzun), excellence (ihsân), and ethical commerce (tijārah) have long shaped Islamic civilization. Markets flourished under moral restraint. Leaders were judged not by wealth, but by trust and service.

What WQC is suggesting is not new — but rediscovered.

Surah Al-Saff challenges believers to align words with actions, to build unity of purpose, and to commit to noble struggle. It calls for courage in the face of injustice and for communities to act as one body when striving for good. Organizers believe these values can offer clarity in an era defined by economic fragmentation and moral fatigue.

For many young Muslims around the world navigating financial stress, ethical dilemmas at work, or a sense that the global system is stacked against them, this message may feel refreshing — even liberating. It shifts the conversation away from political noise and back to foundational ethics.

A Forum, Not a Sermon

What makes WQC stand out is its insistence that the Qur’an can speak to some of the world’s most practical challenges.
The program includes scholars, economists, business leaders, Islamic finance experts, and educators. Their aim is not to issue fatwas or preach. Instead, they want to spark a global conversation: What does a humane economy look like? What does leadership built on character — not ego — demand? How do societies uphold fairness without suffocating innovation?

In this sense, WQC is less a convention than a cross-cultural laboratory — one where revelation meets real-world pressures.

Non-Muslims attending or watching from afar may find that the discussions echo universal questions: How do we build trust in an age of suspicion? What does ethical business really mean? How do communities stay united when economies pull them apart?

Why the World Will Be Watching

Despite being grounded in faith, the questions WQC raises transcend religion.
Economic justice, fairness in trade, responsible leadership — these concerns belong to everyone. But for Muslims, especially those living in regions hit by inflation, unemployment, or political instability, the search for a values-anchored economic vision feels urgent.

WQC’s attempt to place the Qur’an at the center of this conversation offers both continuity and hope. Continuity, because these teachings have guided Muslim societies for centuries. Hope, because they remind people that ethical revival need not start from scratch.

If Surah Al-Saff becomes a starting point for economic re-imagination — even modestly — WQC may well position itself as one of the most quietly influential gatherings of the year.

As The Halal Times prepares to cover the event on the ground, one question will guide our reporting:

Can a unifying chapter of the Qur’an offer a roadmap for a fractured global economy?

We’ll find out in Kuala Lumpur, Insha ALLAH.